Immunological, hematological and biochemical benefits of adjuvant nigella sativa to pharmacotherapy in immune thrombocytopenic purpura patients

BACKGROUND: Patients having acute and chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) suffer from thrombocytopenia, decreased T regulatory lymphocytes (causing immunological tolerance) and abnormal biochemistry (increased inflammatory mediators, autoimmunity, and oxidative stress). Nigella sativa is a prophetic medicine remedy rich in pharmacological ingredients exerting anti-inflammatory and thrombocytosis effects that may improve the biochemistry of ITP patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the benefits of nigella sativa to ITP patients. METHODS: Ethical committee approval and patients' consents were gained and complied with the declaration of Helsinki. Children's parents or legal guardians provided informed consent. 15 acute ITP patients received steroids or Eltrombopag olamine (revolade) for one month then complete blood count was done in addition to counting CD4 T helper cells and Treg cells using flow cytometry. Then, same patients continued the same treatments plus adjuvant 2 grams/day grinded nigella sativa seeds (taken orally added to foods or drinks) for the next month followed by doing the same blood tests. Another 15 patients having chronic ITP received same treatments and investigations. RESULTS: platelets/cc) (P